Seniors Shining This Summer

2027 6-9 C [player_tooltip player_id='2757014' first='AJ' last='Cox'] – Smyrna Stars – Clarke Central Cox looks the part the moment he steps on the floor. The 6-foot-9 big man has a long, wiry frame with broad shoulders and enough natural strength to hold his own around the rim. His upside jumps out immediately because of how fluid he moves at his size. AJ continues to carve out production through effort plays, activity and physicality. He thrives doing the dirty work that many young post players shy away from. Whether it's sprinting the floor in transition, crashing the offensive glass or battling for second-chance opportunities, Cox consistently finds ways to impact winning.   His offense right now is built around hustle buckets and paint touches, but there are flashes that hint at more long-term offensive upside. Cox showed coordination and confidence attacking from the perimeter, putting the ball on the deck and finishing through contact on a strong And-1 take. He runs the floor extremely well for a player his size and is beginning to show improved touch around the basket and at the foul line. His activity level creates extra possessions and easy scoring opportunities because he simply never stops moving.   Defensively, Cox's length alters shots even when he doesn't block them outright. He covers ground well and rebounds outside of his immediate area thanks to his reach and timing. He's still developing a reliable go-to move with his back to the basket and polishing his overall offensive package, but the trajectory is encouraging. Bigs with his frame, mobility and willingness to compete tend to keep making jumps. Cox's best basketball is still clearly ahead of him, and if his development continues at this pace, college programs are going to have a difficult time overlooking him heading into his senior year.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 6-3 F Akiryon Watkins – Hoop Dreams Athletics – Bulloch Academy I love the motor from AK Watkins. Every possession feels personal to him. Watkins plays with nonstop energy and attacks the paint with an edge that wears opponents down over the course of a game. The Bulloch Academy forward doesn't waste possessions floating around the perimeter. He lives in the lane, hunting rebounds, carving out space and overwhelming defenders with physicality and effort.   Standing around 6-foot-3 with a sturdy frame and sneaky bounce, Watkins is a magnet around the rim. The ball seems to find him because he pursues every miss like it's the final rebound of the game. He rebounds outside of his area, elevates quickly in traffic and secures the ball with strong hands. His second-jump ability is impressive and allows him to dominate the offensive glass. So much of his production comes from sheer determination and toughness.   Offensively, Watkins is at his best with his back to the basket where he embraces contact and powers through defenders. He loves to establish deep position before using quick drop-steps and explosive finishes at the rim. He's not flashy, but he's brutally effective. Defenders struggle to keep him off the glass and even when they force a miss, he's usually the first player back up to clean it up himself. His interior presence consistently changes the tone of games because of how physical and relentless he is in the paint.   Defensively, Watkins brings that same high-energy approach. He rebounds at a high level, contests shots and generates extra possessions through hustle plays. The production has become consistent because his motor never changes. Every team values players willing to do the hard work inside, and Watkins embraces that role completely. His toughness, rebounding instincts and nonstop activity make him one of the more productive interior forwards in the class.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 6-0 G Brayden Lee – Georgia Vipers – Flowery Branch The Flowery Branch guard plays with pace, confidence and a calmness that allows him to control possessions without forcing action. He's comfortable with the ball in his hands and has the type of polished handle that immediately stands out against pressure. Brayden changes directions effortlessly, keeps defenders guessing with crafty counters and navigates traffic with poise.   What impresses me most is his feel as a creator. Lee does a great job breaking down defenders off the bounce before making quick reads once the defense collapses. He can deliver creative passes on the move and showed excellent touch dropping off assists in tight windows around the basket. His ability to stay under control while attacking makes him difficult to speed up.   Scoring-wise, Lee is effective from the mid-range where he consistently got to his spots. He plays with balance and confidence pulling up off the dribble and has a smooth release when rising into jumpers. Even when defenders crowded him, he stays composed and uses his handle to create separation. He doesn't rely purely on speed; instead, he manipulates defenders with tempo and timing.   Defensively, Lee competes with a toughness that matched his offensive polish. He brings energy on the ball, fights through contact and shows a willingness to defend physically despite not having overwhelming size. I appreciate how active he is in passing lanes and how hard he plays on both ends.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 6-7 F AJ Levros – Team Next Up – Brunswick Levros makes his presence felt throughout the weekend with his activity, length and athleticism around the basket. The rising senior consistently impacts games with energy plays and interior production. At 6-foot-7, Levros brings a springy, active style that creates problems for opposing frontcourts. He plays bigger than his listed size because of how quickly he gets off the floor and how aggressively he pursues rebounds.   AJ excels creating second-chance opportunities. He attacks the offensive glass with purpose and consistently finds himself around the rim for easy finishes. His motor allows him to stay involved in nearly every possession, especially in the paint where he uses his length and bounce to overwhelm defenders. He moves well without the ball and shows a knack for slipping into open spaces around the basket.   Offensively, Levros flashes versatility. He looks comfortable operating with his back to the basket while also facing up defenders and making quick attacking moves. His footwork stays sharp in tight spaces and he plays through contact effectively. One of the more encouraging signs is his touch at the foul line after drawing contact on multiple strong takes. He doesn't shy away from physical play and embraces finishing through defenders.   Defensively, his length and timing stand out. Levros alters shots consistently and covers ground well as a help-side defender. His activity level alone creates disruption because he constantly stays around the basketball. With continued physical development and offensive refinement, Levros owns tools college coaches covet in a modern forward — size, mobility, rebounding instincts and defensive upside.

2027 6-9 C AJ Cox AJ Cox 6'10" | C Clarke Central | 2027 State GA – Smyrna Stars – Clarke Central
Cox looks the part the moment he steps on the floor. The 6-foot-9 big man has a long, wiry frame with broad shoulders and enough natural strength to hold his own around the rim. His upside jumps out immediately because of how fluid he moves at his size. AJ continues to carve out production through effort plays, activity and physicality. He thrives doing the dirty work that many young post players shy away from. Whether it's sprinting the floor in transition, crashing the offensive glass or battling for second-chance opportunities, Cox consistently finds ways to impact winning.